The demise of Navy Flying Boats
- The demise of Navy Flying Boats
Late in 1960, the NACA (later NASA) tow tank for seaplanes and flying boats was closed at the Langley, VA facility near Norfolk. It became clear that many US Navy contracts in this aviation area were due for cancellation soon. This event marked the end of the line for such projects as PBM's, still being flown by the Navy reserves as a rescue and patrol ship, JRM Mars stationed at VR-2 at Alameda due to be scrapped, the P-5, P-6 and P-7 mockups by Martin, and the Grumman HU-16 Albatross. The Albatross managed to hang on a few more years with the Coast Guard and in SEAL team use in Vietnam, while the JRM Mars was rescued by a Canadian timber company for putting out fires. One example of the P5M and PB2Y still exist at the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, the PB2Y being previously owned by Howard Hughes and used by Admiral King. The lone PBM is at Pima Air Museum just outside of the Davis-Monthan boneyard in Tucson, AZ. The answer of "Scrap 'em and toss 'em" was swift and cruel and signaled the end of a leasurely Vistorian life at the Coronado Hotel, Downwinds Club at North Island, Jim Morrison's dad, Admiral June Morrison, and 60 years of service to the fleet. The brilliant one-step hull designsof the P-5, P-6 and P-7's came to rest at Strawberry Point , MD and were never seen or heard from again. Thus 1/2 of Canada continues to be supplied today (2007) with 100 knot float planes instead of sleek 500 knot flying boats. But there is hope for the future... US Patent
#7040573, a landplane to flying boat conversion project filed in 2006. Soon, Aero Commander flying boats and with other types such as C-130 Hercules to follow.
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